IdentityLord Theon Stark
Age32
RoleWarden of the North
Lord of Winterfell
CharacterizationTheon Stark has only recently taken his father's place as Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell. As such, he remains untested, though he's eager to prove himself. He had plenty of time to study the ways of lordship under Jon- he's well-read, particularly in matters of statecraft, warfare and history. He's taken an interest in his family history in particular, ranging all the way back to Brandon the Builder, the Kings of Winter and everything before and after them. Even at a young age he seemed taken by the legends of the mighty heroes and conquerors that built his House. He looks at the sorry state of his family now and yearns to see it brought back into glory- to see that it's name is as feared and respected as it was in the days of old.
His ambition and zealousness are not tempered by patience as they should be. Theon never quite lost the fire of youth, and it's carried with him in the form of both great passion as well as ill-temperament. Quick to anger and reveling in loathing, he's known to bear grudges for great lengths of time, and his forgiveness is a rare and precious thing. The only thing that's ever proven to keep him in line is the wisdom and advice of those few people he truly respects.
The things he chooses to respect in others are informed, primarily, by what his family's best known for: honor, duty, and loyalty.
True men of loyalty, who stick by their brothers no matter the personal cost, are seen as a precious commodity by Theon. He feels quite strongly that many of his bannermen are only loyal when it suits them, and that they would turn on the Starks the moment things became difficult: as proven by the betrayal of the Boltons and those that bent the knee to them so long ago.
Duty is loyalty of a different form. It is loyalty to an ideal rather than any individual, and for that reason Theon holds it quite highly too. Holding to one's cause even in the face of death is the truest test of a man's character, and more often than not men fail that test. Those that don't, however, must be men of great character and quality.
Honor is the one value of Theon's family he is unsure of. To hold to a personal code of conduct is, in a way, a form of loyalty or duty; but it entails with it a number of traits that Theon believes led to the downfall of many of his ancestors, namely Robb and Eddard. Aspects of honor- such as compassion, honesty, and chivalry- created a weakness in his family that was exploited by honorless men and traitors alike. Honor nearly wiped his family off of the map. And yet, at the same time, it could be argued that honor was the reason the Starks rose to prominence in the first place. It's a confusing and often contradictory thing that Theon continues to wrestle with, and likely will do for a long time to come.
Attributes & TalentsTheon Stark is well-trained in every aspect of lordship. From riding to swordfighting and statecraft to diplomacy, he spent the first two and a half decades of his life preparing to eventually become the Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell. He's became quite proficient in most of those areas, taking well especially to those skills that gave him an outlet for his anger- swordsmanship in particular. Though not a master at much at all, he's a well-rounded man, capable of acting with competency in almost any situation, bar those where delicate diplomacy is required.
Immediate Family
Personal Relations
Lyonel Baratheon
Lyonel Baratheon is one of the best men Theon has ever had the pleasure of knowing. The two grew up together due to Lyonel warding in Winterfell under Theon's father, Jon, and they've continued to maintain a strong kinship over the decades. It was this bond that keeps their Houses so close, echoing the relationship of their old patriarchs, Robert and Eddard. There's no one else Theon trusts as much, and he's more than willing to give his life for his friend's just cause.
Storyline Premise
House Stark has seen many wrongs done to it in recent history, from the infamous slaughter at the Red Wedding to the execution of Eddard Stark, and even Daenerys's unwillingness to help them in their time of need. Theon sees these injustices as failures on his family's part- he believes it is his duty to see these debts paid in blood. The North might remember, but it does not forgive.